Tension load tow rope booster device for water sports

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attachment of a tow rope to a boat for enhancing the performance of a user engaged in a water sport activity. The apparatus comprises a recoil element attached between the user end and the boat end. The apparatus may attach to a boat, tower or pylon. When a load of sufficient force is applied to the recoil element and then released, the force exerted may provide the user with a boost sling-shot effect. The resulting boost may provide the user with longer airtime thus enabling one to perform better acrobatic maneuvers in the air inside or outside the wake. The recoil properties of the apparatus provide the user with softer landing capabilities. The apparatus further provides no stretch or pull while turning into the wake or when landing a jump.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for towing a person engaged in water sports such as wakeboarding or water skiing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many modern day water sports necessitate the use of tow rope and tow rope accessories for participating in such sports as wakeboarding, water skiing, and foilboarding. Persons participating in water sports where they are being towed by a boat typically use a tow rope or tow line attached to a motor boat.

The problem with using conventional tow ropes is that the tow rope often goes slack and then tightens abruptly when the boat changes direction or speed. This causes a jerking force to be applied to the rider. Particularly in wake boarding where the rider is committing aerial jumps and tricks, the tow rope becomes fairly slack resulting in tightening of the rope and jerking when the rider lands. The jerks or shocks experienced by water sports riders can lead to loss of control or injury.

Many techniques for absorbing shock while engaging in water sports have been used in the past. One tow rope shock absorbing device includes a vertical pylon anchored in a boat for attaching the tow rope. The vertical pylon includes a bias element secured in the hollow interior of the pylon. The bias element located in the pylon provides shock absorbing benefits as well as a sling-shot effect to help athletes jump higher than is possible without it. The problem with this device is that it must be used with a boat equipped with an extended pylon. Extended pylons are used less and less frequently these days.

Others describe a water ski handle system to partially absorb forces generated on the handle and tow line while in use. The ski handle system includes structural elements designed to withstand and partially absorb the tension forces to improve the skier's control. The ski handle system does not provide a means to improve vertical leaping capabilities of the skier.

Still others describe an aquatic tow rope having shock absorbers designed to reduce the initial strain on the arms of a water skier. The aquatic tow rope is comprised of a flexible filament having shock absorbers. The shock absorbers further comprise a cylinder having coil compression spring means that attach to a piston. The problem with the aquatic tow rope is that it has a number of removeable metallic parts. Such parts are prone to rusting.

While some of the prior art provide a means to allow for higher jumps than would normally be possible, they cannot provide maneuverability outside the wake and not much stretching in the actual towrope. Alternatively, many shock absorbing devices in the past have opted to implement compression springs rather than other types of recoil devices.

There is a need in the art, therefore, for a towrope apparatus that does not require a pylon, to maximize a user's jumping ability and providing extra lifting and boosting power while engaged in a water sport. The prior art discloses other shock absorbing devices that do have a spring or pulley action for wake board towers and no stretching in the actual towrope. The prior approaches are primarily focused on providing the user with an attachment for a tow rope that has shock absorbing capabilities to reduce the initial strain on the arms of the water skier.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a user with more technical free style capabilities including better performance outside or at the wake maximizing jumping and boosting ability while engaging in water sports such as wakeboarding and water skiing.

It is a further object to enable a user to improve landing capability.

It is a further object to provide the user more air time so as to provide the user with transitional performance enhancement.

It is a further object to provide a connection between the boat and the rider that provides the rider with a sling-shot spring action allowing for better aerial maneuverability such as inverted spins or twists.

It is a further object to provide a tension load booster attachment for a tow rope having various sizes and tensile strength to accommodate various sizes and weights of the users.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention solve the problems and address the drawbacks of the approaches in the above description. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a tension load tow rope booster device for attachment between a boat and a water sport rider which enhances the performance of the rider by providing the rider with a boost thus enabling the rider to perform more aerial, technical, free-style capabilities. The device is comprised of a recoil element having a load end and a boat end. The boat end is attached to the boat and the load end is attached to the handle. The boat end may be attached to the boat directly or by a tow rope. The load end may be attached to the handle directly or by a tow rope. The device may be further adapted to attach to a boat tower or pylon. A boost sling-shot effect is provided to a rider when a load of sufficient force is applied to the device and then released. The recoiling properties of the device provide the rider with greater and higher maneuverability. The rider is provided a boost, only when the rider wants it, by applying a load to the device.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a booster device having a tow rope that is permanently fixed into the device.

In additional alternative embodiments, the booster device is fused with a ski handle for water sports.

These and other embodiments of the present invention are further made apparent, in the remainder of the present document, to those of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully describe embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative.

FIG. 1A shows a basic structure of a tension load tow rope booster apparatus having a boat attached to one end by a tow rope and a handle attached to the other end according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a booster apparatus where the boat end attaches directly to the boat.

FIG. 1C shows a booster apparatus where the load end attaches directly to the handle.

FIG. 2A shows a recoil element, unstretched, with no load applied.

FIG. 2B shows a stretched recoil element when a load is applied.

FIG. 2C shows a recoil element after the load is released.

FIG. 3 shows a booster apparatus having a tow rope rigidly fixed within the device.

FIG. 4 shows a booster apparatus device fused to a handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The description above and below and the drawings of the present document focus on one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention and also describe some exemplary optional features and/or alternative embodiments. The description and drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize variations, modifications, and alternatives. Such variations, modifications, and alternatives are also within the scope of the present invention. Section titles are terse and are for convenience only.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a tension load tow rope booster apparatus as shown in FIG. 1A. The apparatus is attached between a boat and a water sport rider. The apparatus is comprised of a recoil element 1, having a load end 2 and a boat end 3. Recoil element 1 may be made out of all types of rubber, silicone, bungee material, braided rope, elastic material, rubber nylon, metal spring or any other material having recoiling properties.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, boat end 3 may secure directly to the boat by a securing means 6. However, boat end 3 may also attach to a tow rope 4, as shown in FIG. 1C. Tow rope 4 has an apparatus touching end and a free end. Boat end 3 may attach to the apparatus touching end and the free end may attach to the boat by securing means 6. Securing means 6 may removably secure the apparatus to a boat, tower or pylon. Securing means may be a hook or other type of fastener for securing tow rope 4 to a boat. Load end 2 may attach directly to a handle 5, as shown in FIG. 1C. Alternatively, load end 2 may attach to a tow rope 4, as shown in FIG. 1B. The apparatus touching end may attach to load end 2 and the free end may attach to handle 5. The rider may hold onto handle 5 while engaged in a water sport such as water skiing or wakeboarding.

FIG. 2A illustrates recoil element 1 in a resting state. When a load of sufficient force is exerted on the apparatus, recoil element 1 may be displaced and may extend to a fixed distance, as shown in FIG. 2B. When the load is released, recoil element 1 may spring back to the resting position, as shown in FIG. 2C. The force exerted from recoil element 1 when the load is released may provide the rider with a boost. The girth and length of recoil element 1 may be adjusted to accommodate for riders of various weights. Varying the length and girth of recoil element 1 may vary the force needed to displace recoil element 1. The recoiling properties of the present invention do not hinder the integrity of the initial restraint response of the rope.

Other alternative embodiments may include a tension load tow rope booster apparatus where tow rope 4 may be fixed within recoil element 1, the tow rope 4 having one or more free ends, as shown in FIG. 3. One free end may attach to handle 5 and the other free end may attach to the boat by securing means 6. Load end 2 may attach directly to handle 5 or handle 5 may attach to the free end of tow rope 4. Boat end 3 may attach directly to the boat by securing means 6 or the boat may attach to the free end of tow rope 4.

Still another embodiment is a booster apparatus where recoil element 1 is fused to handle 5, as shown in FIG. 4. Tow rope 4 includes an apparatus touching end and a free end. The apparatus touching end is attached to boat end 3 and the free end is attached to the boat by securing means 6.

Throughout the description and drawings, example embodiments are given with reference to specific configurations. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms. Those of ordinary skill in the art would be able to practice such other embodiments without undue experimentation. The scope of the present invention, for the purpose of the present patent document, is not limited merely to the specific example embodiments of the foregoing description, but rather is indicated by the appended claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents within the claims are intended to be considered as being embraced within the spirit and scope of the claims. 

1. A tension load tow rope booster apparatus attached to a tow rope for a boat comprising: a securing means for attaching the apparatus to the boat; a recoil element having a load end and a boat end; and a handle component, wherein the tow rope includes an apparatus touching end and a free end, the apparatus touching end is attached to the load end and the free end is attached to the handle component, or the apparatus touching end is attached to the boat end and the free end is attached to the boat by the securing means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tow rope is separated into a first piece and a second piece, each piece having an apparatus touching end and a free end, the apparatus touching end of the first piece is engaged with the load end and the free end of the first piece is engaged with the handle component, and the apparatus touching end of the second piece is engaged with the boat end and the free end of the second piece is engaged with the boat by the securing means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a fastener for securely and removably attaching the apparatus to the boat.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recoil element is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, bungee material, braided rope, elastic, nylon, and spring coils.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a length and a thickness of the recoil element are adjustable.
 6. A tension load tow rope booster apparatus attached to a tow rope for a boat comprising: a securing means for attaching the apparatus to the boat; a recoil element having a load end and a boat end; and a handle component, wherein the tow rope is fixed within the recoil element and includes one or more free ends, one free end is attached to the handle component and the other free end is attached to the boat by the securing means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the load end is attached directly to the handle component and the free end of the tow rope is attached to the boat by the securing means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the boat end is attached directly to the boat by the securing means and the free end of the tow rope is attached to the handle component.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises a fastener for securely and removably attaching the apparatus to the boat.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the recoil element is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, bungee material, braided rope, elastic, nylon, and spring coils.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a length and a thickness of the recoil element are adjustable.
 12. A tension load tow rope booster apparatus attached to a tow rope for a boat comprising: a securing means for attaching the apparatus to the boat; a handle component; and a recoil element having a load end and a boat end, the load end is fused to the handle component, wherein the tow rope includes an apparatus touching end and a free end, the apparatus touching end is attached to the boat end and the free end is attached to the boat by the securing means.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the securing means comprises a fastener for securely and removably attaching the apparatus to the boat.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the recoil element is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, bungee material, braided rope, elastic, nylon, and spring coils.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a length and a thickness of the recoil element are adjustable. 